Energy costs and the Canadian households





CIBC Markets Inc report says, approximately 25 per cent raise in gasoline price last year will cost Canadian households more or less $12 billion this year.

According to Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist at CIBC: that as of 2010 the entire energy expenditure of Canadian households reached $88 billion. If the recent hike in energy prices remained this might lead to over $12 billion or close to $950 per household this year, Tal added. In other words, seven percent increase in the average Canadian income tax bill.

The current was observed similar to the 2008 oil shock. Today, gasoline prices are now 30 per cent higher than what was observed during the 1991 shock. The condition might have projected to majority of Canadians, but it is the low- and middle- income households who receive the major blow because energy represents a much larger share of their overall spending.

While gas prices empty Canadian pockets, Tal doesn’t expect to see drivers parking their cars and taking bus until prices come down.

“If history is any guide, higher prices will not impact demand for gasoline in the near-term,” he added. “In the most recent energy shock, the 40 per cent increase in prices between October 2007 and July 2008 met with virtually no change in the aggregate volume of gasoline consumption.”

To deal with the issue, Canadians bought less motor vehicles and parts as well as on less essential items such as sporting goods, clothing and personal care. There has been a change with eating habits as well.

“On average, it is estimated that the 25 per cent increase in gas prices will cut the net price paid per grocery item by two to three per cent, ” Tal said.

He said that if it weren’t for the recent rise in the Canadian dollar, Canadian consumers would be feeling the hear of gasoline prices even more.

“The rising value of the Canadian dollar has mitigated the price increase for consumers in Canada. Gas prices in Canada have risen by 23 per cent since September 2010 vs a 32 per cent increase in the U.S. This gap is mostly explained by the eight per cent appreciation in the value of the loonie against the U.S. dollar since September 2010, and to a lesser extent the high level of fixed gasoline tax here.”

In every angle, there’s no doubt that energy costs majorly affects Canadian households expenditure. In line with this, the impact of speed and composition of growth in personal consumption; and the health of Canada’s retail sector as well.

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CREA rules governing MLS® not anti-competitive, says president

Across Canada, the media reporting on the Competition Bureau’s case against the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) to “smash” what it terms are anti-competitive home listings on MLS®, which allegedly limits consumer choice and artificially inflates the price of real estate transactions.

The competition Bureau concluded that REALTORS® should not have exclusive guardianship of MLS® data about local real estate markets, according to media reports. Media commentators have referred to the bureau’s ruling as the “democratization” of the real estate market.

But the reality is that CREA’s rules governing the Multiple Listing System are “not anti-competitive”, said CREA president Dale Ripplinger.

He said CREA is confident the Competition Tribunal will rule against the Competition Bureau. The tribunal is a quasi-judicial body which will make the ultimate ruling.

“The bureau is focused on striking down these anti-competitive rules so that real estate agents wishing to offer innovative services can do so and consumers can benefit from greater choice”, said Melanir Aitken, the commissioner of the bureau.

Rippliger disagrees with Aitken’s assessment of the role of the existing MLS® systems, saying consumers do have choices available to them.

CREA currently has more than 98,000 members (including 1,400 locally, who are members of WinnipegREALTORS®) operating independently across the country, competing on a daily basis for the business of Canadian consumers.

“There are more consumer choices and more business models today than ever before- and that is a good thing.”

Rippliger said Canadian consumers can negotiate the level of service they want and the fees or commissions they want to pay for that service.

WinnipegREALTORS® president Claude Davis said most consumers recognize REALTOR fees are negotiable.

“What most consumers want to pay for is the assistance of a professional,” said Davis. “Clients have indicated to me that they seek out a professional REALTOR® to the come up with compeptitive pricing on a home, how to prepare a home for sale, holding open houses, and dealing with closing negotiations.”

“They’re looking for a lot more than simply a posting on the MLS® system,” Davis added.

“What hasn’t changed- and cannot change to ensure the integrity of MLS® system which operate across the country- is the need for accurate and reliable information to be provided for use in MLS® systems,” said Rippliger and a commitment by REALTORS® using MLS® systems to comply with a code of ethics and regulatory requirement across the country.

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2008 GST Reduction Was Not Universally Praised

“I came to this very store and promised Canadians that a new Conservative government would cut the GST from seven to six to five per cent and at midnight tonight we will deliver on that promise, three years ahead of schedule,” he said at a photo opportunity in a Mississauga store Monday.

Harper said this latest cut will result in an additional $6 billion in tax relief for Canadian consumers in 2008.

But NDP Leader Jack Layton said the GST announcement and other Conservative tax cuts will do little to increase wealth in Canada. In an end-of-year interview, Layton noted that the tax cuts could widen the gap between rich and poor, while the average family could see higher property taxes, post-secondary education fees and other bills.

“Those with the highest salaries – the millionaires, the big banks, the (profitable) corporations… The ones that don’t need the help – are going to get the most help; the oil and gas companies in the tar sands, continuing to get subsidies as well as a big boost from the corporate tax cuts,” Layton said.

Patti Croft, chief economist with the investment firm Phillips, Hager and North, said anyone making big-ticket purchases will benefit from the consumption tax reduction. But, she said: “In general most economists would prefer a cut in income taxes. It’s a more efficient way to reduce the tax burden. By cutting the GST, hopefully it causes Canadians to spend more.”

Ottawa realtor Duane Leon, however, predicted that even though the cut could shave thousands of dollars off the price of a newly built home, there would be little impact on the real estate market. Many builders have already announced that price increases in the thousands of dollars for new construction that will take effect early in the new year, he said, adding this will offset any benefits to buyers from the GST reduction.

The only buyers who will see an actual one per cent price drop in the purchase price of a newly built home are those who bought in 2007 and take possession in 2008, said Leon, an agent with RE/MAX Metro-City Realty. GST is not charged on resales of existing properties.

The director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, however, defended this second trim in the GST, saying it will save the average household between $150 and $200 annually.

“While some have criticized cutting the GST, it is a broad-based tax cut that puts $5 billion back in the pockets of over-taxed Canadians,” John Williamson said in a statement. Noting that this is the second GST cut that the Tories have made since July 1, 2006, he added: “This is good news particularly since $10 billion in the pockets of Canadian consumers is preferable to Ottawa hoarding the cash.”

The president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business agreed.

“The one percentage point cut puts over $5 billion dollars back into the national economy, at a time when sales are traditionally sluggish in many sectors,” said Catherine Swift.

“Our members’ No. 1 priority is tax reduction of all kinds,” she said. “They want to see more money left in Canadians’ pockets.”

The Goods and Services Tax was introduced by the Conservatives in 1992. All 10 premiers opposed the tax, lobby groups railed against it and one poll showed 80 per cent of Canadians objected

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